SPOILER ALERT:This interview contains spoilers for Episode 7 of The Real Housewives of New York City Season 14 now streaming on Peacock TV and airing on Bravo TV.
Jessel Taank of The Real Housewives of New York City is calmly waiting in the reception area of PMCs New York headquarters Accompanying her is her mother, Nilam, who is visiting from London, and Taanks patience stands in contrast to how the internet has painted her. Through seven episodes of the new season, among the shows ardent fandom, shes the Real Housewives cast member audiences love to hate, and has been called both entitled and a princess.
Dressed in an oversized, immaculately crisp white button-down that doubles as a dress by Jill Sander, daringly, Taank sips a hot coffee. You cant see the makeup on the collar, she says.
For much of this rebooted season, in which Bravo introduced a brand-new cast to The Real Housewives of New York City, Taank has been the shows villain. She has been called spoiled for her reaction to Jenna Lyons giving her (and the other members of the cast) a lingerie set that in her view made Taank look, as she complained on camera, like a Christmas tree. Erin Lichy called her a lunatic on camera after their coffee date an attempt to reconcile ended with them more at odds than ever.
Even former Real Housewives of Beverly Hills star Brandi Glanville weighed in on Taanks marriage to husband Pavit Randhawa. During her Unfiltered podcast, Glanville called Taanks comments toward him condescending and emasculating.
Taank is unphased, yet this most recent episode may add a new layer to her on-screen persona. She has been openly sharing her fertility journey on camera for a reason, which is to buck the taboos behind Indian and Asian culture about how to have children. Her twins were conceived via IVF after five treatment cycles, and she wants more conversations around these issues.
This week, audiences get to see a raw and emotional side of Taank as she finally opens up to her mother to reveal this secret. In a tearful exchange, Taank, who calls her mother her best friend, tells her the twins were conceived through IVF and delves into why shed kept that from her.
And of course, being Real Housewives, theres also drama, as Brynn Whitfield is confronted by Lichy for flirting with her husband, Abe, during their vow renewal ceremony. Taank is literally seated in the middle of them, as they all make Christmas wreaths.
At our office, Taank is in a jolly mood, cracking only once as she talks about what it means to her to finally share her IVF journey. In this interview, she discusses being the seasons villain, a scene with Lyons that didnt air, sharing her IVF secret with her mother and her husband Pavits newfound popularity.
As Brits, we dont talk about anything, and as Asians, we dont either. So in the scene when you finally tell your mom that the twins were conceived through IVF, what did that mean to you to be able to tell her?
It was really important for me. Theres a lot of opinion about why would I do this on a national TV show. There was a very clear reason, because of what you just said no one talks about it in our culture. I went through it alone, and I think that there are so many women who are isolated and feel very alone going through it. I wanted to give them a reason not to feel alone.
At one point, you say gossip-spreading within Asian culture is Fucked up. Can you talk about that?
In Indian culture, they want us to harp on the negatives. I get it if its every culture. I didnt want anyone to take it, and have them talk about it because you know that inherently whats going to happen.
Courtesy of Jessel Taank/NBC Universal What has it been like for you to give yourself to the world in this way?
Im doing the best I can. The first two or three episodes I shared a lot, and there wer not-so-great conversations happening about our marriage and how I am. I surround myself with such positive energy and positive vibes that to be exposed to all of this gossip and not-so-great opinions was tough. I could have very easily come in there and said, Im great. My family is great. My kids are great, and I have this great life. But its not true.
Dont get me wrong, things are great but its not perfect. I think in the media or on Instagram, and even on my Instagram, you see this perfectly curated page with pictures, outfits, families and vacations. I think it was important for me to go behind that.
What was it like being caught between Erin and Brynn as Erin called Brynn out for flirting with Abe at the wreath-making?
I was at the wrong place at the wrong time. I should have been with Pavit at the bar.
I could see both sides of the story, but ultimately I knew Brynn was 100% joking and didnt mean anything. Erins husband, Abe, was laughing during the whole interaction, so I didnt feel like he needed saving. Because believe me, I would have stepped in if there was even a slight sense that this wasnt pure banter.
What did Pavit think of you asking Jenna to be in a threesome?
Pavit adores Jenna he would probably kick me to the curb, and nerd out with her on all things business.
So, one reason I was Team Jessel right away was because youre British and maybe youre just being sarcastic and dry. But Americans arent getting this. Did you find that?
There was a big cultural disconnect. I feel like Ive lived in the United States long enough, but Im still very sarcastic and dry. Things I find funny and dry, people dont, and Im like Wait a minute! That scene in the first episode where Im cleaning the table and telling Pavit and my mom, This place is a mess, people were commenting she needs a divorce. Look at the way she talks to her husband and her mom. Its the delivery and tone and how you sound. If someone raised in the States said that, I think people would be easier on them.
Are you misunderstood because of that disconnect?
Very much yes. Im also just quirky as a person. I think Jenna says it. There is no malintent with anything I say, ever. Half the time, I feel like Im laughing and joking and I have a playful tone, but people didnt tap into that for some reason. They thought I was being contrived, or whatever it may be. No. Its just sarcasm.
Whats it been like for you seeing everybody fall in love with your husband Pavit?
Im not surprised, put it that way. I think its very easy to love him. Hes the funniest guy in the room at any given time, and he is the life of the party. Hes someone whos quietly confident and hes not the loudest, but once you get to know him, you are addicted to being around his personality.
Hes very unaware of how funny he is, and that comes from him being so quick to the punch. Before we started filming, I told him, People will probably love you more than they love me. Which is exactly what is happening.
Is there a scene thats been cut from the first seven episodes where youre like, Oh, I wish they had left that in?
People ask me whats the hardest thing, and watching this back, I know the sequence of things that happened and whole scenes get cut out, and youre like, Wait, that doesnt happen, and that doesnt make sense anymore.
The one scene I wish people had seen is me apologizing to Jenna. I did it the night of the sushi dinner when we were sitting around the table. I had bought her a thank you card and had written a soliloquy, a beautiful letter because I felt really bad about my reaction to it. Thats not something that I would do, necessarily, but we were all joking about lingerie. I dont think I put myself in her shoes in a way that I should have I gave her my note, and I said Im sorry. It was this really nice scene.
Going back, how has the response been from the Indian community?
98% of the Indian community has been so supportive. Theyre so proud and so excited. A lot of my close friends or even acquaintances are like, If anyone is going to do this, it should be you. And theres the two percent that are very judgy, and saying, Why are they talking about that on TV?
Purposely, I wanted to open that narrative up. In doing so, Ive received an overwhelming amount of messages from girls who are going through IVF, and hiding it from their parents. And friends who ask me, What vitamins did I take? but also ask me not to say anything to anyone else.
Take us back to your journey moving here from the U.K.
I didnt have this extravagant, lavish life in London. Its because of my moms brothers that Im here. They lived in council housing, and left when they were 18 years old. He worked really hard, and became a hugely successful photographer. That was a big inspiration for me. I thought if he could do it, so could I. So, I went to live with my uncles. It was supposed to be for two weeks.
You know, I say the word immigrant and people were confused, but coming from England, youre moving to another country. Thats what immigration is.
I had to work my way to the top. I did unpaid internships. I had to beg companies to sponsor my visas. I remember I had to come home back to England, and it was easy to fall back into it and stay, but I kept on because I was determined. But it was tough.
You moved around for a bit, living in Los Angeles, and then back to New York. What ended up drawing you back here in recent years?
New York is where I started my career, my marriage and my life in America. Its always been home to me. After the boys were born when Pavit and I were living in L.A, we really felt pulled back to the city where we met, and lived for nearly a decade. Not to mention, my mom often comes to help with the kids when Pavits traveling back and forth to Dallas for work, and she definitely prefers a six-hour flight over a 12-hour one.
So, have you found a preschool for the kids?
We just got their first assignment and were really excited.
How are you going to feel once theyre out of the house?
Im popping bottles. Its so funny, because I may say that now, but I think its going to be tough.
What have you learned about yourself being on the show?
I think watching yourself back is always very hard. There were like moments where I was like, Oh my God, please delete that. But I think its the best learning to see how you are, how people perceive you and what you can do better to receive compliments or criticism.
You have your PR company, The Know. How is that going?
Its going great. After having the twins. I worked so hard to get my career up and running. And then you have kids, and it was, do I continue to work 12 hours a day and not be present for them, or do I take a step back and be more present, and be a mother and do it on my own terms?
I want to take a step back and help the female entrepreneur or designer who doesnt necessarily have the means to pay for a big agency. And based on that, Ive built this network of people who can come to me with launches to help their profiles.
So, who are some of your favorite designers?
I feel theres a big wave of women designers coming out of the gate. On the show, I wear Sally LaPointe 90% of the time. She is so smart. If you go to her website, its organized by color which I think is genius. If you need a black dress, everything is black. I love designers, like Ronny Kobo who create for versatility so if youre working and then have to go to dinner. I love what Altuzarra is doing. There are a number of Indian designers who I love.
Im launching Oushq, a platform for South Asian clothing that is bringing Indian designers together. They dont have the means to market themselves in the US and give them a platform.
What can we expect from the rest of the season?
The show hasnt overwhelmed you with who we are off the bat. I think everyones story is slowly trickling out. You see Jenna being this career woman, but youll see more of her personal life start to come out, because everyone is very curious about Jenna Lyons. Same with Ubah and Sai.
But we all have our moments, and I think it helps put into context who we are as women.
This interview has been edited and condensed.